pets

Definition and regulations

  • 1. Small living animals transported as baggage refer to dogs, cats, birds or other pets that are raised in households.
  • 2. Animals which are too small (such as mice or ornamental fish), too big (their cage size exceeds the maximum volume limitation), or may pose risks to transportation as well as wild animals, creatures with a repulsive appearance, and offensive animals (such as snakes) are not considered to be small animals and cannot be transported as baggage.
  • 3. Short-nosed canines and felines as well as aggressive breeds of these animals cannot be carried onto a flight
    The aggressive dog breeds and breeds of short-nosed felines and canines that are prohibited from using luggage transportation are as follows:
    • Short-nosed felines：Burmese、Exotic shorthair cats、Persian、Himalayan、British Shorthair Cats.
    • Short-nosed canines：Affenpinscher、Boston Terrier、 Boxers(all breeds)、Brussels Griffin、 Bulldog(all breeds)、Bull Terrier、Pug(all breeds)、Cane Corso、Chow Chow、Dogue de Bordeaux、English Toy Spaniel、Japanese Chin/Japanese Spaniel/Chin Chin、Cavalier King Charles Spaniel、Lhasa Apso、Mastiff(all breeds)、Pekinese、Presa Canario、Shar Pei、Shih Tzu、Tibetan Spaniel、American Bully、YankeeTerrier、Gull Ter、Staffordshire Terrierr.
  • 4. All small living creatures being transported as checked baggage must be transported in a container that allows oxygen to circulate and reach the creature (not applicable to guide dogs, hearing dogs ). Any creatures which are not suited to a journey in the aircraft’s baggage hold will not be transported.
  • 5. Passengers should bear full responsibility for the small animals which they transport on a flight. China Southern Airlines will not be held liable for the illness, injury, or death of a small animal unless it is caused by the actions of the airline itself.

Packaging requirements for living animals consigned for shipment

  • 1. To transport small animals, passengers must submit their applications at the time of reservation, and at least 72 hours before flight departure, and obtain the reply of China Southern Airlines.
  • 2. Some individual small aircraft cannot carry more than three small animals at a time. The actual restrictions on the number which may be carried on board must be confirmed with the Engineering Department of China Southern Airlines.
  • 3. Each passenger can only carry one small animal or one pair of birds in their checked baggage (depending on the entry and exit regulations of the departing and destination countries). Each small animal should be placed in a single cage, while a pair of birds can be placed in the same cage.
  • 4. The cage size used to transport a single small animal must not be larger than 90x60x66cm or smaller than 5x15x20cm. The maximum weight should not exceed 32kg.
  • 5. If the baggage storage area on the aircraft model used for a flight is not suitable for transporting small living creatures, passengers cannot apply to have their animals transported. Ground personnel must check that the aircraft model being used for a flight is suitable for carrying a small living creature on board before agreeing to do so.
  • 6. China Southern Airlines cannot currently carry small living creatures on connecting flights.
  • 7. Small living creatures brought on board by passengers must be in good health, harmless, clean, and not have a pungent odor. Pregnant animals may not be brought on board.
  • 8. Passengers should take their small animals to the airport for check-in 90 minutes before their flight departure time.
  • 9. Passengers who check in a dog or cat must sign a waiver of liability for the transportation of their animal.

Required Documentation

  • 1. China Domestic flights: Passengers must present an animal quarantine certificate from a quarantine department at county (or regional) level or above.
  • 2. Hong Kong/ Macau/ Taiwan, China/ International flights:
    • a. “Certificate of Quarantine” and “Certificate of Rabies Immunization” issued by the department responsible for plant and animal immunization in the People's Republic of China;
    • b. A departure and arrivals card or transit permit;
    • c. Any additional documentation required by the destination or transiting countries (please refer to TIM for national regulations).

Note: Some airports (such as Hong Kong，China) only allow small living creatures to arrive or depart as cargo. Please check this carefully before you depart.

Requirements for pet carriers

Small animals must be kept in a suitable and sturdy carrier made of metal, tough plastic, or wood. The carrier used must also meet the following requirements:

  • 1. The carrier should be used specifically for checking in pets onto a flight. It must be made of sturdy materials, with a fixed top and ventilation on at least three sides. The door must be lockable and made of metal to prevent pets from escaping.
  • 2. All parts and accessories of the carrier (including the nuts, latches, rivets, and locks, etc.) must be strong and in good working order.
  • 3. The base of the crate should be flat and must be able to be kept stationary on an even surface. If a crate with wheels is used, its wheels should be fixed or removed in advance to prevent the crate from moving.
  • 4. Small animals suffering from an infectious disease will not be accepted for transport. For international transport of small animals, passengers should present the Quarantine Certificate and Rabies Vaccination Certificate issued by the Animal and Plant Quarantine Department of the People’s Republic of China, an Entry/Exit or Transit Permit as well as any other documents required by the country which the small animal will enter or transit through.
  • 5. Cages used for animal transportation must have an absorbent mat (such as a towel or blanket) placed on the bottom to prevent urine and feces coming into contact with other baggage.

Requirements for packaging pet carriers

  • 1. When land-based animals such as dogs and cats are checked in, a protective net should be used to line and fasten their carrier before the animal is placed inside.
  • 2. When a packing belt is used, it should bind the carrier evenly in a grid shape with spacing of between 20 to 30cm used.
  • 3. To prevent the carrier tipping over and agitating your pet, the carrier should be packed using binding belts on its sides in a vertical and horizontal style. To make the package more secure, these belts should pass through the door and protective grid on the carrier. The belts going through the grids should be even to securely fasten the door, the body, and the protective net.

Feeding and Exercise

Passengers who have checked an animal onto a flight should remember to feed, water, and exercise their animal at every stop during the entire length of their journey.

Application Procedures

Charges for small animals:

Baggage sales takes effect from May 20, 2019 (inclusive)

  • Domestic flights:
    The weight of small animals, their containers and food to be carried shall not be counted into the passenger's free baggage allowance and shall be charged as excess baggage;
  • International flights:
    Actual shipping weight (including the weight of the small animal, its container and food to be carried) Charging Standard（RMB） Charging Standard（USD） Charging Standard（EUR）
    2KG≤ Small Animal as Baggage ≤8KG 1380 200 190
    8KG＜ Small Animal as Baggage ≤23KG 2100 300 280
    23KG＜ Small Animal as Baggage ≤32KG 3500 500 470
    The transportation charge for small animals is calculated separately, which shall not be included in free baggage allowance nor billed as excess baggage.
    USD applies to the transportation of small animals originating from the United States;
    EUR applies to the transportation of small animals originating from the Eurozone;
    RMB applies to the transportation of small animals originating from the countries not mentioned above. When the transportation of small animals overseas is not charged in RMB, the fee shall be converted from RMB into local currency at the exchange rate of the day.

Service dogs (along with their container and food) are transported free of charge and do not count toward any free baggage allowances.

Transportation of Service Dogs

  • 1. Service dogs (including support dogs, guide dogs and hearing dogs) refer to special dogs that assist the living and working of disabled persons;
  • 2. The transportation of service dogs shall follow the regulations applicable to small animals (pets). Under the premise of compliance with the transportation conditions of China Southern Airlines, service dogs may be brought into the cabin by disabled persons for transportation, which shall be indicated on passengers’ boarding passes;
  • 3. Service dogs to be brought into the cabin should wear muzzles and draglines before boarding, and stay at the feet or knees of the disabled persons during flight, and may not occupy seats and run in the cabin;
  • 4. Declaring Baggage Value is inapplicable to service dogs.

Quarantine Requirements for Pets Entering China

According to Announcement No. 5 [2019] of the General Administration of Customs, P. R. China Announcement on Further Regulating the Supervision of Pet Importation and Quarantine, pet importation at all ports of entry will be subject to new quarantine regulations, effective on May 1,2019.In this context, China Southern Airlines kindly reminds you that:

  • 1. Only dogs or cats are allowed for importation (including service dogs for the disabled), and only one pet per passenger is allowed.
  • 2. Valid quarantine certificate and rabies vaccination certificate issued by an official animal quarantine organ of the exporting country or region shall be presented to the China customs for pet importation.
  • 3. Pets must have microchips that meet the international standards of ISO 11784 and 11785. The 15-bit microchip code shall contain only numbers and must be readable with a reader. For any non-compliant microchip, the pet owner may prepare a reader to read the implanted chip.
  • 4. Pets shall be under 30-day isolation and quarantine in a quarantine station designated by the customs except for the following circumstances where pets are exempt from isolation and quarantine:
    • a. Pets arrive from 19 designated countries or regions, i.e., New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, French Polynesia, USA (Hawaii and Guam only), Jamaica, Iceland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Cyprus, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong SAR(China), and Macao SAR (China), hold valid microchips and pass on-site quarantine.
    • b. Pets arrive from non-designated countries or regions (any countries or regions other than the designated ones), hold valid microchips and rabies antibody test report (blood titer or antibody amount must be above 0.5IU/ml) from an approved laboratory, and pass on-site quarantine.
    • c. Guide dogs, hearing dogs or rescue dogs hold valid microchips, as well as corresponding owner certificate and professional training certificate, and pass on-site quarantine.
  • 5. Pet owners bringing pets to be isolated and quarantined shall enter China via a port of entry equipped with isolation and quarantine facilities. Ports of entry equipped with isolation and quarantine facilities are listed and updated on the official website of the General Administration of Customs, P. R. China. As of the effective date of the new regulations, ports of entry equipped with isolation and quarantine facilities are listed as below:
    Port of Entry Customs in Charge
    Beijing Capital International Airport Customs at Beijing Capital Airport
    Beijing West Railway Station Customs at Beijing West Railway Station
    Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport Customs at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport
    Shanghai Pudong International Airport Customs at Shanghai Pudong International Airport
    Shanghai Railway Station Customs at Shanghai Railway Station
    Shanghai International Cruise Terminal Pujiang Customs
    Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal Wusong Customs
    Urumchi Diwopu International Airport Customs at Urumchi Airport
    Alataw Pass Customs at Alataw Pass
  • 6. In case of any non-compliant importation for which pets are returned or destroyed by the customs within a specified period, China Southern Airlines shall not assume any responsibility thereof.
  • 7. From May 1, pet owners travelling with pets to China should prepare the official quarantine certificate, vaccination certificate, microchip and etc. in advance as required below checklist. For details, please visit the official website of the General Administration of Customs, P. R. China at http://www.customs.gov.cn, and refer to Announcement No. 5 [2019] Announcement on Further Regulating the Supervision of Pet Importation and Quarantine.